Hazing considered possible factor in Black college student’s death

Police say they are looking into whether hazing played a role in the sudden death of Tyler Hilliard, a 20-year-old student from the University of California-Riverside. He died after attending a nearby mountain trek with other members and pledges for Alpha Phi Alpha, according to his mother, Myeasha Kimble, reports ABC News. Kimble said her son, who was a business major at UC Riverside, was excited to pledge Alpha Phi Alpha this year. Alpha Phi Alpha “is one of the oldest Greek fraternities and it’s a Black organization. Martin Luther King was a part of that organization,” Kimble told ABC News. “He did his research. He felt that this was a good fit for him because this organization appeared to be involved in community service.” On Saturday night, Hilliard went with other fraternity pledges to Mount Rubidoux, ABC station KABC in Los Angeles reported. Medical aid was called to Mount Rubidoux around 9 p.m. Saturday, and Hilliard was taken to a hospital where he was alert and talking to staff, Riverside Police spokesman Ryan Railsback told ABC News. “When I got to the hospital I asked one of the pledge masters, the ones that leads the pledges, who said that they were about to start their hike at Mount Rubidoux and Tyler was complaining of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing,” Kimble said. Then Hilliard collapsed and the fraternity members called 911, Kimble said. From the hospital, Hilliard’s family called the Riverside Police early Sunday, saying they were suspicious about why Hilliard had ended up in the hospital and that hazing was possibly involved, Railsback said. “There were texts in my son’s phone in regards to paddling,” Kimble explained. “There were also text messages on the phone where he was getting hit with a cactus.” Hilliard then went into medical distress, Railsback said. He was taken to intensive care and died. While Hilliard’s autopsy report is still pending, police are “conducting an investigation as a suspicious death at this point,” Railsback said. “We are looking into concerns the family has about possible hazing.” Meanwhile, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s corporate headquarters said it has suspended all activities at its UC Riverside chapter.